- The novel coronavirus can spread with ease, making it an incredibly dangerous pathogen.
- Researchers have studied the genome of the various SARS-CoV-2 strains circulating in the population, identified the most common mutations, and proved these genetic changes don’t increase the transmissibility of COVID-19.
- Most mutations appear to be neutral or slightly disadvantageous for the virus, and they’re primarily induced by the immune system response rather than the adaptation of the virus.
The novel coronavirus is so scary because of the way it spreads inside a community. Anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours may be enough for COVID-19 to spread from a carrier, and then it can take up to 14 days for the symptoms to appear. When they do, they’re not always specific, and many people who experienced it a few months ago could have mistaken it for the flu or a common cold. The virus’s mortality rate is higher than the flu’s, but low enough that it doesn’t hinder its ability to spread to others. The faster the virus kills the host, the less likely for that host to transmit the disease to their contacts. That’s why “flattening the curve” is so important, and why some forms of social distancing are still required to avoid a second wave. The longer the virus is contained, the easier it’ll be to treat, thanks to the emergence of new protocols, new drugs, and the arrival of the first vaccines.
However, the virus is a living organism that can adapt to the environment through mutations. Scientists are already keeping tabs on the various genetic changes that have occurred in the COVID-19 strains that have been observed since December, and they have good news. These mutations do not increase the pathogen’s ability to spread to other people.
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Researchers say mutations haven’t made the coronavirus more dangerous originally appeared on BGR.com on Wed, 27 May 2020 at 16:53:06 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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